Friday 17 May 2013

BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER

This is a mood disorder and can also be called manic depressive disorder showing symptoms that could be so low causing depression and progressing into high symptoms causing mania. This is as a result of biochemical imbalances in the brain. Predisposing factors include the stress,and genetics being the umbrella predisposing factor. Sufferers experience vast mood swings different from what every other person experiences.
   Symptoms include;
Depressive symptoms ;
-feeling of saddness and apathy that doesnt go away
-loss on interest in normal daily activities.
-excessive feeling of worthlessness and guilt.
-going off sex.
-change in appetite.
-weight gain or weightloss
difficulty making simple decisions.
Manic syptoms include;
-elevated mood,loss of contact with reality.
-decreased need for sleep and food
-increased libido
-increased sense of self worth and euphoria
-setting umachievable goals and over expressing plans
-sufferers may become psychotic suffering hallucination and delusion.
   Recognising symptoms early and seeking medical help will go far for somebody with this illness,history taking,adhering strictly to your medications is also very important. Routine checkup and cognitive therapy. Acceptance both by sufferers and relatives the existence of any form of mental illness is the first step to solving the problem.
    Thank you for stopping by and feel free to ask me any question